No matter what month it is, friendship is one of those topics that can always be addressed in the classroom. Read-alouds are an excellent way to address the important topics associated with friendship.
Using picture books is a great way to model behaviors and start discussions on what it means to be a friend, how to be kind, and to talk about some difficulties that occur between friends. And, good news there are so many great books out there on this topic but I am sharing my most favorite!
Here is a list of picture books that talk about all the important aspects of friendship and being a good friend. I have also included interactive read-alouds for each story which are linked below.
I’m sharing all of these books on video as well! Check out the Friendship Read-Aloud Books video on my YouTube channel.
This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
Friendship Read-Aloud Books
Strictly No Elephants by: Lisa Mantchev
Strictly No Elephants tells the story about how a local Pet Club won’t let in a boy and his tiny pet elephant, but he comes up with a clever solution. But, just like pets, friends come in all different varieties. A great story of friendship, acceptance, and inclusion. This is definitely on my list of favorites. It’s easy to read with cute characters and is truly a story to make everyone feel welcome.
Grab an interactive read-aloud to go along with the book.
Meesha Makes Friends by: Tom Percival
Meesha Makes Friends is the story of a little girl, Meesha, who loves to make things but…she struggles with making friends. A heart-warming picture book that is perfect for discussing how socializing and making friends can be a bit overwhelming.
It also touches on the importance of helping a friend when they need it—a remarkable story that touches a bit on loneliness and how to navigate challenging social situations. Overall, a powerful book to celebrate friendship and being yourself. Don’t forget to grab the interactive read-aloud.
Grab an interactive read-aloud to go along with the book.
Enemy Pie by: Derek Munson
Enemy Pie is the funny yet endearing story of two neighborhood enemies who find the perfect recipe to go from enemies to best buds. A great lesson on the difficulties and rewards of making new friends. A helpful read-aloud to build classroom community and to address unfriendliness in the classroom.
Here is an interactive read-aloud to go along with this story!
The Name Jar by: Yangsook Choi
The Name Jar is the story of a young girl who has moved from Korea to the United States. She has decided she wants to give herself an American name because her first experience with other children is unpleasant. But, she soon will realize to appreciate her name with the help of a classmate who quickly becomes her friend.
A beautiful story about friendship and how small acts of kindness can create a big difference. A read-aloud that will spark wonderful conversations and help your students understand how Unhei felt.
Grab the interactive read-aloud here
Those Shoes by: Maribeth Boelts
Those Shoes is the story of a boy, Jeremy, who dreams of owning a pair of shoes that his family can’t afford but instead receives a pair of shoes from a thrift shop. He is determined to love these shoes even if they are a bit too small. Soon he realizes that a chance to help a friend is worth more than what he wants.
A powerful lesson on how random acts of kindness and helping friends sometimes help you feel better than any pair of shoes ever could. Be sure to add yourself to the waitlist here for a new interactive read-aloud and an exciting new book club!
Be Kind by: Pat Zietlow Miller
Be Kind is a picture book that highlights the power of kindness. Kindness is a huge part of friendship, and this thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind. This sweet little girl shares examples of things we can do to show kindness. A single act of kindness can change a day, not just for one individual but for many. I love how relatable this story is for students.
I also have a FREE interactive read-aloud to go along with this picture book.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by: Ryan T. Higgins
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates is the story of how Penelope Rex is starting school, and she is so excited. But, Penelope is a dinosaur among humans, and she is struggling to make friends because she keeps trying to eat her delicious classmates. Penelope soon realizes that it’s not fun to be eaten, and she will have to stop if she wants to make friends. It’s such a silly story with a powerful lesson that will prompt discussions among your students on making friends. I also have a great interactive read-aloud here.
Using picture books is such a powerful way to help students with important social and emotional learning skills. They can see how others overcome challenges, navigate through different skills and react in different situations.
I have a huge collection of interactive read-aloud skills that address different social and emotional learning topics by helping students understand these skills through fun characters and great stories.
What are some of your favorite books about friendship?
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